Former appointed Sen. George LeMieux, whose reputation as former Gov. Charlie Crist‘s “maestro” once made him the embodiment of the Florida GOP establishment, has been endorsed by Herman Cain, who hailed LeMieux’s anti-establishment credentials at a Hernando County GOP dinner over the weekend.

“Tonight was the first time I ever heard Sen. LeMieux. And I’m sitting there thinking to myself: He’s saying everything I would say,” businessman and former GOP presidential candidate Cain said.

“This is the type of person that we need in Washington, D.C. — people who are not afraid to challenge the establishment,” said Cain, who said he didn’t tell LeMieux or his own staff in advance before making the endorsement.

LeMieux and Rep. Connie Mack are the leading Republican contenders for the nomination to take on Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.